Northern Ireland in Brussels

In May, Evelyn Cummins, Director of Northern Ireland’s Brussels Office, met with Foyle Women’s Group during their trip to Brussels and spoke to them about the role of the Brussels Office. The group also met an official from the UK Permanent Representation to the EU who briefed them on elements of the European social agenda.

A group of interns placed by Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) into various European institutions visited the Office of the NI Executive in Brussels, on 9 May. The group were placed with Commission Offices and MEPs, including Northern Ireland MEP Jim Nicholson. Deputy Director of ONIEB, Alasdair MacInnes, spoke to the group about the roles of the various regional offices in Brussels.

On 30 May Mr Paisley Jr undertook a familiarisation visit to Brussels. The Minister met staff, toured the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels, and was briefed on the Office’s various functions.

On 12-13 June 2007 Sir Reg Empey visited Brussels to meet with Commissioners and senior officials relevant to his departmental responsibilities. The Minister’s engagements included meetings with Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities; Catherine Day, Secretary General of the European Commission; Odile Quentin, Director General, Education, Youth and Culture, Northern Ireland MEPs.

Minister Gildernew travelled to Brussels along with DARD Permanent Secretary Malcolm McKibben for meetings on 14 June. The Minister and Permanent Secretary were in Brussels as part of the negotiation process with the European Commission for agreement of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. The Minister also visited the Office of the NI Executive and met staff.

John McMillen, Deputy Secretary of OFMDFM chaired a meeting of UK Nations and Regions’ Offices in Brussels on 18 June. The meeting, which was hosted by the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels, involved sharing knowledge of the various types of governance in operation within UK regions. Mr McMillen spoke to the group about the Northern Ireland Review of Public Administration, and also met with senior officials in the Scottish and Welsh offices in Brussels, as well as the UK Permanent Representation to the EU.

On 24 July deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness and Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Ian Paisley Junior spent the day in Brussels, continuing the process of engagement with Europe. At a working lunch hosted by the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels the Ministers also met guests ranging from diplomats to staff in the main European Institutions as well as key players in business, tourism and agriculture.  Ministers also took the opportunity to speak to the Northern Ireland Civil Servants who work in Brussels. The Ministers were delighted to learn on the day of their visit that Northern Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2007-13 was approved by the European Commission.

Staff in the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels welcomed a group of rural development students from the Gibson Institute to Brussels on 27 July. The Group were addressed by Eileen Kelly, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s policy officer in Brussels. The students learned more about the functions of the office and associated European Rural Development issues.